Operations Leader Metrology

MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical

2x pension contribution

Lease car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

25 days holiday

Job summary

The MTC is seeking an Operations Leader for Metrology at its Ansty site, Coventry region. You will lead a 5–10 person Metrology Lab, oversee safety, quality and delivery, and push continuous improvement across measurement processes.

This senior role demands deep metrology expertise and strong people leadership in a hybrid work environment. You will mentor technicians and engineers, optimise measurement strategies, and collaborate with workshop and project teams to meet commitments and customer

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on expertise in at least one core metrology discipline (e.g., CMM metrology, structured light scanning, XCT and other methods of non-destructive testing).
• Broad knowledge of complementary measurement technologies and ability to guide measurement strategy.
• Mentoring ability for junior metrologists and interpretation of GD&T.
• Strong understanding of GD&T symbols, datums, tolerances, and functional requirements.
• Ability to lead technical decision‑making and manage teams to meet objectives.
• Experience in Lean manufacturing within an operational cell.
• Translate customer requirements into deployed metrology capabilities.
• Ability to influence without authority and uphold quality ethos.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day Metrology Lab operations and ensure safety, efficiency, and quality.
• Oversee inspection tasks, accuracy, and timely delivery of results to customers.
• Manage lab schedule, equipment utilisation, and workload planning.
• Develop team skills, performance reviews and coaching.
• Drive continuous improvement in measurement methods and documentation.

Skills

Metrology leadership

Lab operations

CMM metrology

GD&T interpretation

Measurement strategy

Team mentoring

Continuous improvement

Quality standards

Safety management

Decision making

Tools

CMMs

Structured light scanners

XCT systems

Laser measurement devices

Job description

The Vacancy

Job Title: Operations Leader – Metrology

Location: MTC, Ansty

Working hours: 36 Hours per week (Fully Flexible Working Week and Hybrid working options available)

Salary: £50,000 - £56,000

Benefits: Private medical, 2x pension contribution, lease car scheme, cycle to work scheme, 25 days holiday (plus public holidays) and more.

About Us

The MTC is a well-respected and admired organisation that is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering that work with cutting edge technology to drive innovation. We work alongside 100s of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food & drink, construction/civil engineering, electronics, oil & gas and defence. We help our clients to advance their technological and engineering capabilities in order to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness. We help to bridge the gap between academia and industry by proving new ideas in an agile setting.

We have a range of engineering capabilities covering Research & Development, Advanced Manufacturing Management, Factory Design and Training. Often referred to as one of the ‘Best kept secret’, our rapid expansion and growth is making us more and more in demand.

Being supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK manufacturing, we have locations in Ansty Park in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford.

The role

The Metrology Operations Lead is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and development of the Metrology Lab team, typically comprising of 5 to 10 individuals including Apprentices, Technicians, and Manufacturing Engineers.

They ensure the lab operates safely, efficiently, and to the highest technical and quality standards in support of the wider Workshop. They will ensure that all metrology activities follow approved processes, acting as a role model for professionalism, integrity, and technical excellence. They are accountable for the health, safety, and wellbeing of the team, including (but not limited to) the safe operation of complex metrology equipment such as CMMs, structured light scanners, XCT systems, and laser-based measurement devices. They are empowered to stop any activity that is unsafe or does not meet required quality or process standards.

They are responsible for the Metrology Lab’s delivery of Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery (SQCD) performance. This includes ensuring that all inspection tasks are completed safely, to the required accuracy and technical standard, efficiently and within agreed cost expectations, and within the timeframes necessary to support workshop and customer commitments.

They will manage team absence, behaviours, and performance in line with MTC expectations. This includes conducting performance reviews, providing coaching and feedback, addressing performance issues where necessary, and supporting the development and progression of team members.

They will lead and nurture a culture of continuous improvement within the Metrology Lab, recognising that the team and capability are still developing therefore change management experience is desirable. This includes improving and standardising measurement methods, enhancing documentation and work instructions, increasing workflow efficiency, reducing rework and operator variation, and empowering the team to identify and implement improvements.

They will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the lab schedule, including prioritisation and allocation of incoming inspection work, management of equipment utilisation, and ensuring timely delivery of accurate and reliable results to internal and external customers. They will work closely with workshop, engineering, and project teams to ensure the inspection workload is understood, planned, and delivered against commitments.

They will have joint ownership of the strategic direction and future capability of the Metrology Lab by identifying skill gaps, recommending new technologies or processes, supporting investment cases, and developing the team’ technical competency to meet emerging and future requirements.

All aspects of the role are to be carried out as an exemplar within the business in adhering to the MTC Values:

One team together

The collaborative spirit is the lifeblood of MTC. Because none of us is as good as all of us.

Pursuit of the best

Excellence is an everyday expectation. We constantly question what’s the best solution for customers.

Insatiable curiosity

Progress is an endless pursuit. We think beyond the obvious, ready to reimagine any convention.

Enterprising spirit

Ideas can change anything. We embrace innovation to extract the maximum value for our customers.

Person Specification

Essential Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• Significant hands‑on expertise in at least one core metrology discipline (e.g., CMM metrology, structured light scanning, XCT and other methods of non‑destructive testing, laser tracking, or surface inspection).
• Broad working knowledge of complementary measurement technologies, with the ability to compare methods, guide measurement strategy, and interpret results across CMMs, structured light, XCT, and first principles equipment.
• Ability to act as the technical mentor for junior metrologists, providing coaching, reviewing measurement plans, and ensuring good metrology practice.
• Practical understanding of GD&T, with an ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, including GD&T symbols, datums, tolerances, and functional requirements, and translate these into appropriate measurement strategies.
• Comfortable leading technical decision‑making, even when not the hands‑on expert in every technology.
• Experience in managing teams to achieve business objectives.
• An understanding (and experience of implementing and executing) of Lean manufacturing principles within an operational cell.
• Ability to translate customer requirements into a deployed capability installation.
• Be determined and resilient in applying quality ethos and standards throughout the Workshop.
• Ability to influence without authority.
• A high level of technical and quality process knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to practical problems
• Good oral communication skills and confidence in dealing with a range of people, including clients, contractors, designers, directors and plant operators
• Precise and concise written communication skill
• Previous responsibility for resource planning, succession planning, or team development pathways
• The ability to lead a team through ambiguous or challenging situations.
• The ability to work under pressure

Desirable Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• Project management skills such as stakeholder management, organisation, planning, requirements capture etc
• Experience of working with external customers and establishing credibility.
• Experience developing technical training materials, competency frameworks, or upskilling programmes.
• Background in aerospace, automotive, precision engineering, or high integrity manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of continuous improvement

Reference and Security Checks

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained and you may be required to undergo security clearance checks.

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC's engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world-class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Reference Checks and Security Checks (where applicable)

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.